State-of-the-Art in Evaluating Transit State of Good Repair

Despite record ridership levels and prospects for major national investment in transportation infrastructure, U.S. transit agencies face a significant challenge in defining what constitutes a state of good repair (SGR) for their assets, and in achieving such a state. Addressing these issues will require the ability to understand the full scope of the problem and chart a course that maximizes available resources while suggesting ways to address future needs. This paper provides a working definition of SGR, and reviews the state-of-the-art in evaluating SGR in the transit industry, as well as asset management practices in transit and other modes. These practices include the use of asset management systems, condition forecasting techniques, and capital program scenario planning tools. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) Program Guidance and Grant Evaluation System (PROGGRES) is profiled as a case study that is representative of the current state-of-the-art in SGR evaluation. The paper also explores opportunities for improvement in future transit SGR efforts.